July 26, 2024 • 13 mins
Former All Black Sevens Head Coach Sir Gordon Tietjens joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to discuss New Zealand's early exit from the medal chances.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcie Waldergrave
from News Talk z'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We'll join now on the show by Sir Gordon Titchen's
Gordon Titch whatever you like to call. I'm sure he
doesn't mind. Gordon, Welcome to the program. What an upsetting
morning for New Zealand. At seven's Great went up against
Ireland to come back in the second and then ejected
by a team that arguably shouldn't have even been there.
That must hurt.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yeah, yeah, funny should say that, Darcy, because I was
actually in Monaco where they obviously played there to qualify
for the Olympics because they'd missed out on the Asian
obviously when they in the African side of the drawbay Ken,
you took these fights, so South Africa had to qualify
and they looked very very good there and they convistingly
(00:57):
beat Great Britain to secure a position at the Olympics.
So obviously going into that winning that, then they obviously
went into our Paul and I knew they are always
be tough because they're always really competitive, and I saw
the first game where we beat them seventeen to five,
which was yesterday, but I felt in that game, I
thought the South Africans were punished quite harshly, probably some
(01:21):
penalties that went against them where it probably could have
gone either way.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
And I knew at that seventeen.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
To five result didn't really reflect how good South Africa
were in my view, and I knew.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
And I suppose I looked at it as if I
was coach.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
And that was one team I wouldn't want to meet
in the quarterfinals, and that's what it turned out to be.
And certainly they were always going to be difficult to beat,
and I've always had defense wins tournaments, and it certainly
won that game for them.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
As far as the game beforehand up against Islam, though
to actually come back in that second half to secure
that victory that is pretty important. Would that gas the
team much? Would that put them into a sense of
we can get this done because of that comeback. What
their attitude going to the South Africa nats? Do you think?
Speaker 4 (02:07):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:07):
I mean, I mean the game now, the game of sevens,
You've got to be incredibly fat and be well conditioned
because there's no easy games, and obviously I suppose Japan
in some ways was an easier game for South Africa,
which they I mean, they'd lost their first two games.
(02:28):
You know, they needed to beat Japan by a considerable
big margin to be that eighth qualifier, you know. And
for New Zealand, obviously it was a tough draw. I
mean South Africa Island. I mean, I mean that was
really really tough as well.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
And I think your conditioned for that.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
And I think sometimes it's better to have a hard
draw because you've got to get up for it. And
this year, for the first time ever, they've allowed teams
to have fourteen players, and as you've seen, so if
you've got players to be knocked about, you can bring
in the thirteenth and the fourteenth player, and they did
that certainly with Joe Weber and Mala in Day two.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
So yeah, I suppose it took a bit out of them.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
But in the Irish game, when you think about it,
they had a penalty with about thirty seconds so sorry
about it, a minute and a half to go, and
that would have put them eight points ahead with two
minutes to go, and they elected to.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
Try and score a try and they.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Obviously turned the ball over and we had New Zealand
staring at the other end.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
And also converting to beat them.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
So I mean, I saw how asthetic they were when
they run that, because if they had lost that, they
had Fiji in the you know, in the quarters, and
so which either way you went, you're either going to
get South Africa or Fiji. So I suppose we struck
a team that learned from their loss the previous.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Day and they turn around and beat us.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
What do you think about taking points when they're on
offer in rugby Union fifteen and you take the points,
don't you?
Speaker 3 (03:59):
But in seven slightly year with two minutes to go
and you know and you're you know, you're five points
are head scort of three points?
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Speck, then you're going to kick the goal as much
as it doesn't it please the crowd.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
You're going to get eight points ahead with two minutes
to go and then back your d And in that case,
Iland they misfired and so the result was playing Fiji
in a quarter and they lost that as well, And
so perhaps both teams were fatigued and pretty tight after
quite a tough battle in there and their respective pool games.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
We're talking with Sir Gordon Titchens around the All Black
Sevens knocked out of the Olympic Games. Does this strike
you was fair and right that a team just managed
to scrape through to the tournament then just managed to
scrape through as well, the third best qualifier manages to
knock your side out?
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Does that burn there? I say it made.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I was in the same position in twenty sixteen where
we had lost our first game against Japan and pool play,
so we had to rely on scoring lots of points
against Kenya to get into the position that South Africa
were and that was to get in as the eighth qualifier.
But the result with that was we met Fiji in
the quarters and that game went down to the wire
(05:11):
and because we were knocked out in the same spot,
so we were playing for fifth, which we ended up
in the end, and that's what New Zealand's doing. I've
got a gaming is Argentina now and they're playing for
fifth effectively, so made. I know what that feels like,
and it's tough, but I mean it's because there's twelve teams.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
You know, if you were sixteen teams.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Will be the top two going through to the respective quarterfinals.
But because there's twelve teams, you've got two qualifiers that
are going to come out after losing a couple of
games that have scored probably more points than others in
South Africa were lucky enough. And the other team, of
course that was lucky was USA in France. They both lost,
but they also had a draw, so they won the
(05:53):
easiest so game in the pool and had a draw,
so they were always going to be that seventh qualifier
if you like.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
So, how are the All Blacks prepare for fifth place?
And they've got this very there must be a gut
feeling knowing they're going to the opening ceremony of the Games,
but the games essential when it comes to challenging for
any ten has gone. So how do you lift? How
do they list to this?
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Well, the pride in the jersey and playing for your country,
I think that's that's one. But I think the first
question they've got to ask themselves is do we go
to the opening ceremony? Was that's a day prior to
generally you're playing the next day, you know, because there
was a day off now and generally in an opening ceremony,
I know in the past that we haven't gone because
(06:39):
you spent a lot of time on your feet and
you don't get back to the village till quite late.
So that's something they've got to certainly ask themselves. You know,
are we going to go to the and enjoy the
occasion and the atmosphere of an opening ceremony, or we're
going to prepare and we're going to come out of
the cinnament and very good at everything. We've got to
secure fifth position.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Not enough teams, Gordon, as you've rightly pointed out, But
what about having the seven so early in the Olympics,
like before it officially starts. Is that necessarily good for
the sport?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
No, mate, it's funny to ask. Used to say that,
because I ran into a number of people that didn't
even realize that He's I played on day one. Didn't
even realize the seventh competition had started, you know, because
they there hadn't been the Olympic opening ceremony, and that's
generally when the game start was after the ceremony, you know,
And it's just seems quite odd. I've had two days
of the Olympic, you know, men's sevens program and where
(07:35):
the woman the ladies, they start on their first games
early Monday morning, so that's when the games are really underway.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
So pretty tough now they.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Basically their opportunity to Syracura are medal has gone and
the games haven't started, so it's.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
Yeah, it's quote quote odd.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Really, how's the strength of the game, Gordon? You think
now that planning is in on lost their World Series
port which is which terrible? Do you think it still
has traction? The Olympics is probably the go to now
is it in a good state.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
We all have our thoughts on how the game should
be run, and I can't believe that World Rugby in
some ways have elected to bring down It's used to
be sixteen teams all the time, it's now twelve teams.
They've reduced a number of tournaments, so you wonder which
way they're really going. Main New Zealand doesn't have a
tournament now, and we've seen over the years how successful
(08:29):
that's been. And because that's when you've got that game
in your own country and it's supported by your own country,
and we did particularly well when the tournaments was here.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
It gives the game real good exposure.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
But of course I do know as a fact that
a lot of the girls in the sevens team now
that are playing in the Olympics. Starting on Monday are
going up to league next year. You know they're going
to be playing, giving themselves a cracker overseas in the
Australian game, perhaps at some of the girls that are
stepping down from the blackfan and sevens. But you know,
(09:03):
we still want more girls playing the game, want to
give them more opportunities. And I just hope, you know,
we can add a few more tournaments because and PEPs
we get it back here in New Zealand base. But
it seems quite odd that they're reducing the number of
tournaments and they've reduced the number of teams and the
tournaments now as well.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Good and Titchens. Back in the day the All Blacks
sevens were peppered with all blacks. There were some sensational
teams with an absolute rock stars as you well know.
In this case, was there a case to say maybe
some all blacks from the fifteen should have been drawn
into this side? Man Ardie Savia the likes of him.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
Yeah, Well, I go back to twenty sixteen and I
had a wish list which I presented to the New
Zealand Rugby Union on players that I'd like to have
an opportunity to select. And the Olympic Committee were across
that as well as well as the New Zealand Rugby Union.
And you know I had the Rico Yoanni and a
(10:03):
sunny Bill Williams and so on and Jenery, one player
from each franchise.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
And in some.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Of those players even Rico for now as an example,
is one of the Marty Salvia and if you remember
back in twenty sixteen, he was selected in my side,
was in two winning teams before the Olympics and pulled
out before we actually went away to Rio and he
I suppose that was really disappointing to lose Arti at
(10:30):
that time. But and Ben Smith was another one that
really wanted to be an Olympian.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
Voting bar it was another one.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
But at that time the all backs said they had
too much power in terms of selection and.
Speaker 4 (10:42):
Unfortunately they didn't step out at Rio.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
So I think it's great if the player has given
that opportunity. And look what's upon for France nt look
at him today. You know in that in their quarter
final against Argentina, he scored I think the final try
in that game and you could see.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
The just I suppose how he celebrated his.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
Final try in front of seventy thousand people's probably the
best scrum in the world at the moment. And to
play in your own country and you know, in front
of your own people, of course, and for your national
team is it must be a real thrill. And I'm
certain there's some All Blacks currently out there now that
would love to have that opportunity to be involved in
the sevens game and at the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
It's a bit of a stretch Gordon that if some
of our pretinant all black fifteen's had it been in
that sevens team, were they given him for a better
chance to possibly win gold or at least to meddle.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Or only providing that they were released to beget sevens
fit Darcy, I think seventh conditioning is massive and it's
no good coming out of the fifteens program and expect
a fifteen a side player to perform in the very
first tournament or an Olympic tournament if he hasn't been
playing with them, And if I think one of the
Irish players was playing for the Irish.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
In the Five Nations and so on, but.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
He's spent months with them getting conditioned and now he's
part of their team. And if you were given that
obviously that if they were given that opportunity to be
involved in some sort of tournament at the completion of
the World Series, and they were freed up by their
respective franchises or whatever the case may be, then then
I think it would be fantastic, you know, for New
Zealand because it would strengthen us. But to be good
(12:19):
at seven, you've got to be playing it and training it,
and that's really important.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Gee. I would never have guessed to Gordon that you'd
be talking about SUPERB seven's fitness and I talk to
you about the game. It's been a hallmark of your
outrageous career. Hey, one last thing good before we let
you go. Are the Ferns now carry the hopes? They've
got a number of rock stars in that side, including
Porsche Wooden Wickcliffe. How do you think they're going to go.
(12:43):
They've got enough to get gold here.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Oh yeah, mate, they've really talented y, They've got a
good coaching team and I think they know what it's about.
I think them losing in Monaco, losing their tournament there
at the end of course for that sorrow.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
It was Madrid, actually.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
They were in Madrid, and I think they were a
situation where they by Australia on full time, so I
personally believe it will be an Australian New Zealand final,
which I think will go down to the wire. But
then don't underestimate the French Woman. Whatever side they fall on,
they also lift sift their game a few notches play
in front of their own crowd, So I'd love to
(13:23):
see an Australian New Zealand final. And I think I
remember one of the girls just recently talking to the
media was saying, you know they lost the last game
East Australia said it's given them enough motivation to really
get up to win their second gold medal.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
And it's hope we can find some joy in sevens
with the Wahane s. Gordon Titchens always a pleasure. Great
to catch up again, it's been too long. Thanks so
much for joining us.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
Cheer Cheer, Sadie.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Thank you For more from Sports Talk, Listen live to
News Talks they'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcie Waldergrave
from News Talk z'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We'll join now on the show by Sir Gordon Titchen's
Gordon Titch whatever you like to call. I'm sure he
doesn't mind. Gordon, Welcome to the program. What an upsetting
morning for New Zealand. At seven's Great went up against
Ireland to come back in the second and then ejected
by a team that arguably shouldn't have even been there.
That must hurt.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yeah, yeah, funny should say that, Darcy, because I was
actually in Monaco where they obviously played there to qualify
for the Olympics because they'd missed out on the Asian
obviously when they in the African side of the drawbay Ken,
you took these fights, so South Africa had to qualify
and they looked very very good there and they convistingly
(00:57):
beat Great Britain to secure a position at the Olympics.
So obviously going into that winning that, then they obviously
went into our Paul and I knew they are always
be tough because they're always really competitive, and I saw
the first game where we beat them seventeen to five,
which was yesterday, but I felt in that game, I
thought the South Africans were punished quite harshly, probably some
(01:21):
penalties that went against them where it probably could have
gone either way.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
And I knew at that seventeen.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
To five result didn't really reflect how good South Africa
were in my view, and I knew.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
And I suppose I looked at it as if I
was coach.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
And that was one team I wouldn't want to meet
in the quarterfinals, and that's what it turned out to be.
And certainly they were always going to be difficult to beat,
and I've always had defense wins tournaments, and it certainly
won that game for them.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
As far as the game beforehand up against Islam, though
to actually come back in that second half to secure
that victory that is pretty important. Would that gas the
team much? Would that put them into a sense of
we can get this done because of that comeback. What
their attitude going to the South Africa nats? Do you think?
Speaker 4 (02:07):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:07):
I mean, I mean the game now, the game of sevens,
You've got to be incredibly fat and be well conditioned
because there's no easy games, and obviously I suppose Japan
in some ways was an easier game for South Africa,
which they I mean, they'd lost their first two games.
(02:28):
You know, they needed to beat Japan by a considerable
big margin to be that eighth qualifier, you know. And
for New Zealand, obviously it was a tough draw. I
mean South Africa Island. I mean, I mean that was
really really tough as well.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
And I think your conditioned for that.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
And I think sometimes it's better to have a hard
draw because you've got to get up for it. And
this year, for the first time ever, they've allowed teams
to have fourteen players, and as you've seen, so if
you've got players to be knocked about, you can bring
in the thirteenth and the fourteenth player, and they did
that certainly with Joe Weber and Mala in Day two.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
So yeah, I suppose it took a bit out of them.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
But in the Irish game, when you think about it,
they had a penalty with about thirty seconds so sorry
about it, a minute and a half to go, and
that would have put them eight points ahead with two
minutes to go, and they elected to.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
Try and score a try and they.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Obviously turned the ball over and we had New Zealand
staring at the other end.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
And also converting to beat them.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
So I mean, I saw how asthetic they were when
they run that, because if they had lost that, they
had Fiji in the you know, in the quarters, and
so which either way you went, you're either going to
get South Africa or Fiji. So I suppose we struck
a team that learned from their loss the previous.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Day and they turn around and beat us.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
What do you think about taking points when they're on
offer in rugby Union fifteen and you take the points,
don't you?
Speaker 3 (03:59):
But in seven slightly year with two minutes to go
and you know and you're you know, you're five points
are head scort of three points?
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Speck, then you're going to kick the goal as much
as it doesn't it please the crowd.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
You're going to get eight points ahead with two minutes
to go and then back your d And in that case,
Iland they misfired and so the result was playing Fiji
in a quarter and they lost that as well, And
so perhaps both teams were fatigued and pretty tight after
quite a tough battle in there and their respective pool games.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
We're talking with Sir Gordon Titchens around the All Black
Sevens knocked out of the Olympic Games. Does this strike
you was fair and right that a team just managed
to scrape through to the tournament then just managed to
scrape through as well, the third best qualifier manages to
knock your side out?
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Does that burn there? I say it made.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I was in the same position in twenty sixteen where
we had lost our first game against Japan and pool play,
so we had to rely on scoring lots of points
against Kenya to get into the position that South Africa
were and that was to get in as the eighth qualifier.
But the result with that was we met Fiji in
the quarters and that game went down to the wire
(05:11):
and because we were knocked out in the same spot,
so we were playing for fifth, which we ended up
in the end, and that's what New Zealand's doing. I've
got a gaming is Argentina now and they're playing for
fifth effectively, so made. I know what that feels like,
and it's tough, but I mean it's because there's twelve teams.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
You know, if you were sixteen teams.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Will be the top two going through to the respective quarterfinals.
But because there's twelve teams, you've got two qualifiers that
are going to come out after losing a couple of
games that have scored probably more points than others in
South Africa were lucky enough. And the other team, of
course that was lucky was USA in France. They both lost,
but they also had a draw, so they won the
(05:53):
easiest so game in the pool and had a draw,
so they were always going to be that seventh qualifier
if you like.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
So, how are the All Blacks prepare for fifth place?
And they've got this very there must be a gut
feeling knowing they're going to the opening ceremony of the Games,
but the games essential when it comes to challenging for
any ten has gone. So how do you lift? How
do they list to this?
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Well, the pride in the jersey and playing for your country,
I think that's that's one. But I think the first
question they've got to ask themselves is do we go
to the opening ceremony? Was that's a day prior to
generally you're playing the next day, you know, because there
was a day off now and generally in an opening ceremony,
I know in the past that we haven't gone because
(06:39):
you spent a lot of time on your feet and
you don't get back to the village till quite late.
So that's something they've got to certainly ask themselves. You know,
are we going to go to the and enjoy the
occasion and the atmosphere of an opening ceremony, or we're
going to prepare and we're going to come out of
the cinnament and very good at everything. We've got to
secure fifth position.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Not enough teams, Gordon, as you've rightly pointed out, But
what about having the seven so early in the Olympics,
like before it officially starts. Is that necessarily good for
the sport?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
No, mate, it's funny to ask. Used to say that,
because I ran into a number of people that didn't
even realize that He's I played on day one. Didn't
even realize the seventh competition had started, you know, because
they there hadn't been the Olympic opening ceremony, and that's
generally when the game start was after the ceremony, you know,
And it's just seems quite odd. I've had two days
of the Olympic, you know, men's sevens program and where
(07:35):
the woman the ladies, they start on their first games
early Monday morning, so that's when the games are really underway.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
So pretty tough now they.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Basically their opportunity to Syracura are medal has gone and
the games haven't started, so it's.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
Yeah, it's quote quote odd.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Really, how's the strength of the game, Gordon? You think
now that planning is in on lost their World Series
port which is which terrible? Do you think it still
has traction? The Olympics is probably the go to now
is it in a good state.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
We all have our thoughts on how the game should
be run, and I can't believe that World Rugby in
some ways have elected to bring down It's used to
be sixteen teams all the time, it's now twelve teams.
They've reduced a number of tournaments, so you wonder which
way they're really going. Main New Zealand doesn't have a
tournament now, and we've seen over the years how successful
(08:29):
that's been. And because that's when you've got that game
in your own country and it's supported by your own country,
and we did particularly well when the tournaments was here.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
It gives the game real good exposure.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
But of course I do know as a fact that
a lot of the girls in the sevens team now
that are playing in the Olympics. Starting on Monday are
going up to league next year. You know they're going
to be playing, giving themselves a cracker overseas in the
Australian game, perhaps at some of the girls that are
stepping down from the blackfan and sevens. But you know,
(09:03):
we still want more girls playing the game, want to
give them more opportunities. And I just hope, you know,
we can add a few more tournaments because and PEPs
we get it back here in New Zealand base. But
it seems quite odd that they're reducing the number of
tournaments and they've reduced the number of teams and the
tournaments now as well.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Good and Titchens. Back in the day the All Blacks
sevens were peppered with all blacks. There were some sensational
teams with an absolute rock stars as you well know.
In this case, was there a case to say maybe
some all blacks from the fifteen should have been drawn
into this side? Man Ardie Savia the likes of him.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
Yeah, Well, I go back to twenty sixteen and I
had a wish list which I presented to the New
Zealand Rugby Union on players that I'd like to have
an opportunity to select. And the Olympic Committee were across
that as well as well as the New Zealand Rugby Union.
And you know I had the Rico Yoanni and a
(10:03):
sunny Bill Williams and so on and Jenery, one player
from each franchise.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
And in some.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Of those players even Rico for now as an example,
is one of the Marty Salvia and if you remember
back in twenty sixteen, he was selected in my side,
was in two winning teams before the Olympics and pulled
out before we actually went away to Rio and he
I suppose that was really disappointing to lose Arti at
(10:30):
that time. But and Ben Smith was another one that
really wanted to be an Olympian.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
Voting bar it was another one.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
But at that time the all backs said they had
too much power in terms of selection and.
Speaker 4 (10:42):
Unfortunately they didn't step out at Rio.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
So I think it's great if the player has given
that opportunity. And look what's upon for France nt look
at him today. You know in that in their quarter
final against Argentina, he scored I think the final try
in that game and you could see.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
The just I suppose how he celebrated his.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
Final try in front of seventy thousand people's probably the
best scrum in the world at the moment. And to
play in your own country and you know, in front
of your own people, of course, and for your national
team is it must be a real thrill. And I'm
certain there's some All Blacks currently out there now that
would love to have that opportunity to be involved in
the sevens game and at the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
It's a bit of a stretch Gordon that if some
of our pretinant all black fifteen's had it been in
that sevens team, were they given him for a better
chance to possibly win gold or at least to meddle.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Or only providing that they were released to beget sevens
fit Darcy, I think seventh conditioning is massive and it's
no good coming out of the fifteens program and expect
a fifteen a side player to perform in the very
first tournament or an Olympic tournament if he hasn't been
playing with them, And if I think one of the
Irish players was playing for the Irish.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
In the Five Nations and so on, but.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
He's spent months with them getting conditioned and now he's
part of their team. And if you were given that
obviously that if they were given that opportunity to be
involved in some sort of tournament at the completion of
the World Series, and they were freed up by their
respective franchises or whatever the case may be, then then
I think it would be fantastic, you know, for New
Zealand because it would strengthen us. But to be good
(12:19):
at seven, you've got to be playing it and training it,
and that's really important.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Gee. I would never have guessed to Gordon that you'd
be talking about SUPERB seven's fitness and I talk to
you about the game. It's been a hallmark of your
outrageous career. Hey, one last thing good before we let
you go. Are the Ferns now carry the hopes? They've
got a number of rock stars in that side, including
Porsche Wooden Wickcliffe. How do you think they're going to go.
(12:43):
They've got enough to get gold here.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Oh yeah, mate, they've really talented y, They've got a
good coaching team and I think they know what it's about.
I think them losing in Monaco, losing their tournament there
at the end of course for that sorrow.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
It was Madrid, actually.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
They were in Madrid, and I think they were a
situation where they by Australia on full time, so I
personally believe it will be an Australian New Zealand final,
which I think will go down to the wire. But
then don't underestimate the French Woman. Whatever side they fall on,
they also lift sift their game a few notches play
in front of their own crowd, So I'd love to
(13:23):
see an Australian New Zealand final. And I think I
remember one of the girls just recently talking to the
media was saying, you know they lost the last game
East Australia said it's given them enough motivation to really
get up to win their second gold medal.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
And it's hope we can find some joy in sevens
with the Wahane s. Gordon Titchens always a pleasure. Great
to catch up again, it's been too long. Thanks so
much for joining us.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
Cheer Cheer, Sadie.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Thank you For more from Sports Talk, Listen live to
News Talks they'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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